Incinerator and method of burning combustibles

ABSTRACT

A method of burning and an incinerator using a semiclosed system including an enclosure having a thin covering of thermal conductive, substantially nonporous and abrasion resistant glassceramic material so that part of the heat generated within the incinerator may be transferred through the covering to the atmosphere and part of the heat is reused within the system to heat makeup air being added to the system to support the burning with the enclosure.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Harold W. Scott Ridgefield; StefanGudmundson, Madison, both of Conn.

[21] Appl. No. 24,577

[22] Filed Apr. 1, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 5, 1971 [73] AssigneeEnvironmental Control Sciences Corporation Bethe], Conn.

[54] INCINERATOR AND METHOD OF BURNING COMBUSTIBLES 18 Claims, 9 DrawingFigs.

[52] U.S.Cl 110/8 C, 1 10/ 1 8 C [51] lnt.Cl F23g 5/12 [50] Field ofSearch 110/7, 8 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,729,572 9/1929 Evans 110/82,707,946 5/1955 Merryweather et al.. 126/140 3,076,421 2/1963 Spitz 1l0/l8 3,087,443 4/1963 Attanasio et a1 1 10/18 Primary Examiner KennethW. Sprague AtlomeyCurtis, Morris & Safford ABSTRACT: A method of burningand an incinerator using a semiclosed system including an enclosurehaving a thin covering of thermal conductive, substantially nonporousand abrasion resistant glass-ceramic material so that part of the heat,

generated within the incinerator may be transferred through the coveringto the atmosphere and part of the heat is reused within the system toheat makeup air being added to the system to support the burning withthe enclosure PATENTEU 0m Si n SHEET 1 [IF 4 INVENTORS HAROLD W, SCOTTSTEFAN GUDMUNDSON ATTORNEZZ PATENTEDDBI 515m 3610.180

SHEET 2 OF 4 INVENTORS HAROLD H. QCOTT STEFAN eunmuuosou,

ATTOR vs -5 PATENTEU am 51971 3,610,180

SHEET 3 OF 1 INVENTORS HAROLD N. $COTT STEFAN GUDMUNDsON BY W5 W -W IATTORNE 5 PATENTEDUBT 5:97: 3.610.180

SHEET '4 OF 4 ,Csw/ ATTORNE DMUNDSON INVEN HAROLD STE FAN INCINERATORAND METHOD OF BURNING COMBUSTIBLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to an apparatus and method for incineratingcombustible materials by means of a semiclosed system.

Pollution of the atmosphere from open burning of dumps and even from thehigh stacks of the well known insulating refractory-lined incineratorshas caused substantial problems with the environment.

With open dump fires there is really no attempt made to control theescape of pollutants, both gaseous and particulate, to the atmosphere.With the standard high stack incinerator, some attempt has been made bymeans of electrostatic perciperators, air scrubbers and other suchdevices, and as far as is known with limited success.

The standard incinerator with its high stack and insulated fire box isnot only extremely expensive to construct, but it is not particularlywell suited for the selected incineration successively of various wastematerials from industrial operation 5.

As an example, scrap insulated copper wire has a recovery valve if theinsulation can be removed without unduly melting or destroying thecopper. Obviously, such an operation must be conducted at a low heat andunder good control conditions. On the other hand an old automobile whichis to be incinerated to remove all combustible materials so that onlythe metal will remain, must be burnt off at a higher heat in order toreach the hidden combustibles scattered about the various intricacies ofthe automobile, as well as quickly for economic reasons. The standardincinerator would not be able to handle quickly successive loads whichmay range from the copper wire to old automobiles to organic waste, thelatter which may require incineration to the smallest amount of ashresidue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus and method for inexpensively incinerating materialsof various kinds. It is a further object to provide such an apparatusand method which is easily adapted to handle, at a minimum of expense,succesive varieties of different materials.

It B still a further object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method which utilizes a semiclosed incineration system toreduce the amount of gaseous and particulate pollutants which may bepermitted to escape to the atmosphere.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which may be readily movedfrom one location to another at a minimum of expense in order to reducethe cost of transporting waste materials to a central site having afixed incinerator.

These and other objects are obtained by means of using a semiclosedsystem including an enclosure having a thin covering of thermalconductive, substantially nonporous and abrasion resistant glass-ceramicmaterial. In addition, part of the 'heat generated within theincinerator may be transferred through the covering to the atmosphereand, further, part of the heat reused within the system to heat makeupair being added to support the burning of the combustibles within theenclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front view of theapparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus in accordance with the I presentinvention taken from the direction of lines 2-2 of FIG. 5 is a detailedsectional view through one of the supporting footings for the supportrail for the mobile incinerator;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view through the supporting joist for the supportrail of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partially fragmentary sectional view showing the location ofthe burning and combustion air systems of the incinerator;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a typical panel fastening means forholding the covering of the incinerator on the supporting frame; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view showing the coating of thefastening means of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and toFIGS. 1 through 4 in particular, an incinerator 10 for carrying out thepresent invention is shown. The incinerator 10 is mounted on wheels 12which are caused to ride on guide rails 14. The rails 14 in turn arepositioned along a burning platform or slab 16.

In the illustrated embodiment the incinerator 10 is comprised of a sideframe 18, a second side frame 20 and a pair of end frames 22. Hingeddoors 24 are provided in the end frames 22. The side frames 18 and 20are clad with a series of panels 26, the end frames with panels 28 andthe hinged doors 24 with panels 29.

The panels 26, 28 and 29 are advantageously fastened on the interior ofthe frames and doors so that they fonn the enclosure for the incinerator10, thus putting the supporting framework outside the incineratorenclosure. The panels are formed from a thin glass-ceramic material,less than I -inch thick and preferably having a thickness of about0.20-0.30 inches. Because it will be subjected to high heat within theincinerator, the material must have good thermal conductivity and at thesame time a low coefficient of linear thennal expansion. Further, sinceit will be exposed to the atmosphere and changing climatic conditionswhile the interior is subjected to high heat, it must be resistant tothermal shock and material having a resistance to thermal shock of atleast 1,000 to 32 F. is advantageously used. Of course, a materialhaving a resistance to thermal shock of a greater temperaturediflerential may be used if needed and desired.

The amount of linear expansion of the panel material has a directrelationship to the design of the side frames 18 and 20, and the endframes 22 including the hinged doors 24. If there is a substantialexpansion of the panel material in going from ambient temperature to theoperating temperatures of the incinerator expansion joints must be builtinto the frames to accommodate the panel expansion.

Preferably the coefiicient of expansion would not be greater than 2X10"inches per inch per degree Fahrenheit in going from 77 to 570 F.

A glass-ceramic material which is found suitable for use as panels ismade by Corning Glass Works, Corning, New York, and sold under thetrademark PYRAM.

Mounted on the side frame 18 and extending through the underlying panel26, are a burner assembly 30 and a combustion gas handling assembly 32.Mounted on the opposite side frame 30 and extending through the panels26 is an exhaust gas duct 34, which connects to an exhaust blower 35 anda scrubber assembly 36.

As shown in FIG. 4 in particular a series of piles 38 of combustiblematerial are spread along the burning platform 16. Connected to theburner assembly 30 and the combustion assembly 32 are utilityconnections 40 for gas and electric power. Similar utility connections42 for electric power and water are connected to the exhaust blower 35and the scrubber assembly 36. In actual operation, after a burning pile38 has been positioned on the platfonn 16, the hinged doors 24 are swungopen and the incinerator l0 moved by any suitable apparatus so that itstraddles the pile to be burnt. With the incinerator 10 in place, thedoors 24 are closed reestablishing an enclosure overlying the plafl'orml6 and the burning pile 38. The incinerator 10 is spaced slightly abovethe platform 16 to permit some air from the atmosphere to enter theinterior of the incinerator. If desired, skirt portions 44 may beattached to the lower portion of the side frames 18 and 20 or the endframes 22 to limit the amount of entering air or, if desired, to pennitthe greatest amount to enter from a selected direction.

With the incinerator in place the burner assembly 30 is ignited anddirected at the desired pile 38 as shown in FIG. 7. The burner assemblyis comprised of a standard blower 46 with a nozzle 48. The burnersupplies sufficient heat to cause the pile 38 to ignite. Combustion airis furnished to the ignited pile 38 by means of the combustion gasassembly 32. This assembly is comprised of blower 50 which feeds air toa manifold 52 which in turn is connected to a series of swivelablenozzles 54 which may be rotated to a selected position to direct the airnecessary to support combustion to preselected regions surrounding thepile 38. it is to be understood that where the term air" is used, thatterm encompasses the atmospheric oxygen or, in specialized cases, anadditional supply of oxygen may be injected into the system if desired.

Since in the illustrated embodiment the side frames 18 and 20 arearranged in a tapered relationship converging at the top of theincinerator l0, unused but heated air will rise to the top. There it ispulled into a return air duct 56 and directed into the blower 50 whereit is combined with ambient makeup air to heat the makeup air and berecycled through the manifold 52 and the exhaust nozzle 54. Dependingupon the material which is being incinerated, the burner assembly 30 mayor may not continue to be used after there has been initial ignition ofthe pile 38. Where the material is sufficiently combustible to supportburning the air furnished by the blower 50 may be all that is required.Positioned opposite the burner 48 are a series of outlets 57 connectedto an exhaust manifold 58, which in turn is connected to the exhaust gasduct 34 and the exhaust blower 35.

Since the incinerator 10 is a semiclosed system, the gaseous andparticulate pollutants normally associated with incineration and withopen burning are trapped within the incinerator. The exhaust blower iscontinuously drawing off pollutants so generated and that polluted gasstream is directed to the scrubber 36 where it is washed and the exhaustgas exited through the stack 59. Advantageously, the capacity of theexhaust blower 35 may be slightly greater than the combustion gas blower50. For example, the combustion gas blower 50 may have a capacity of 750cubic feet per minute while the exhaust blower 35 has a capacity of 900cubic feet per minute. Due to the differential of 150 cubic feet perminute a slightly neytive pressure will be maintained within theenclosure of the incinerator 10 causing the generated gas with itspollutants to remain therein and permit the entry of additional makeupair in the lower regions of the incinerator where it is spaced from theburning platform 16.

Since the panels 26, 28 and 29 are in contact with the heat generatedwithin the incinerator l0, and the panels have a low rate of thermalexpansion, the structural members of the incinerator 10 will not beadversely efiected to any substantial degree by the generated heat.Also, the panels have a fairly good coefiicient of thermal conductivitycompared to other materials. The coefficient of glass-ceramic materialsold by Corning Glass Works under the trademark PYRAM" is about 13.6while glazed tile has a coefficient of 2.7 and glazed cemented asbestoshas a coefiicient of 1.8. Due to the relatively good thermalconductivity of the panels the heat which is absorbed is quicklydissipated to the atmosphere outside the incinerator. This is alsohelped by the thinness of the panels. As a result there is a controlledheat dissipation so that the spaced frames will not become too heated.

As shown in FIG. 8, the panels of the illustrated incinerator consist ofa series of sheets 60. In order to fasten the sheets to the frames anysuitable fastening means may be used. One such fastening means maycomprise a bolt 62 and a nut 64, which together with a plate 66 areattached to an angle support 68 which in turn may be part of one of theframes. To cushion the panels 60 and to insulate the angle support 68from the heat conducted by the panels, an asbestos sheet 70 is placedbetween the angle and the panel 60. The asbestos sheet 70 not onlyserves as a cushion and an insulator, but if impregnated with sodiumsilicate, may also act as a waterproofing member to prevent leakage fromthe outside and into the incinerator.

The plate 66 is preferably protected by suitable means from the heatgenerated within the enclosure. One means of doing this is to use aceramic coating resistant to a heat of at least about l,000 F. and whichmay be applied by a flame spray device which is well known in the art ofplasma flame coating; for example that manufactured by Metco lnc.,Westbury, New York.

The fastening joint shown in FIG. 8 may also include a sleeve 74 whichsurrounds the bolt 62 and functions as a spacer to prevent any unduepressure being applied to the sheets 60.

Heat which is generated within the incinerator is dissipated primarilythrough the sheets 60 and a small amount through the fastening plates66. The heat transmitted through the fastening plates 66 is designatedby the anows 76. This heat is transferred to the sheets 60, and becauseof the presence of the asbestos insulating material 70, it bypasses theangle support 66 and is transferred to the ambient atmosphere and not tothe supporting frame.

Normal generated heat is designated by the arrow 78 and that isconducted directly outwardly through the sheets 60.

When in cold climates the sheets 60 may be subjected to substantialthermal shock. For example, the outer surface 80 of the sheet 60 may beexposed to a temperature of 32 F. while the inner surface 82 may beexposed to a generated internal heat of 1,000 F. As a result the thermalshock may be from 32 to l,000 F. and the panels must be capable ofabsorbing such extremes of temperature simultaneously.

The surface of the burning platform 16 may be of any suitable materialdepending upon the needs of the operation. In some instances anearthened platform may be sufficient. Usually some sort of a hardenedsurface will be desired and a refractory material such as fire brick maybe used, although in some cases an inexpensive surfacing may be usedsuch as a concrete slab.

If the incinerator I0 is to be moved from position to position, it iswell to furnish an adequate support. In such a case a series of footings86 and connecting rail joists 88 may be used as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

What is claimed:

1. An incinerator for burning material comprising:

1. a supporting surface for material to be burnt and 2. a structureadjacent to said surface and combining therewith to form an enclosurefor the material to be burnt;

3. said structure including a thin covering of thermal conductive andsubstantially nonporous glass-ceramic material;

4. said glass-ceramic material having a resistance to thermal shock ofat least about 1,000" F. to 32 F.; whereby said covering may be exposedto the heat generated by the burning material 2. An incinerator forburning material as defined in claim 1, and further including a burnerfor use in supplying sufficient heat to the material to be burnt tocause it to ignite.

3. An incinerator as defined in claim 2 and further including a blowersystem for supplying air to the region about the material to be burnt.

4. An incinerator as defined in claim 3, and further including exhaustmeans for removing gaseous pollutants generated by the burning ofmaterial within the enclosure.

5. An incinerator as defined in claim 4 wherein the structure has anupwardly tapered cross section.

6. An incinerator as defined in claim 4 wherein the structure has sideand end walls and at least one end wall has a closeable opening thereinto permit material to be burnt to be placed within the structure.

7. An incinerator as defined in claim 4 wherein at least a portion ofthe structure adjacent to the supporting surface is spaced therefromwhereby makeup air may thereby enter the interior of the structure.

8. An incinerator as defined in claim 4 wherein the exhaust means forremoving gaseous pollutants includes an air cleaner.

9. An incinerator as defined in claim 4 wherein the blower system forsupplying air to the region about the material to be burnt includes atleast one air nozzle movably mounted whereby the direction of the airfrom the nozzle may be controlled.

10. An incinerator for burning material comprising:

1. a supporting surface for material to be burnt and 2. a structureadjacent to and overlying said surface and combining therewith to forman enclosure for the material to be burnt;

3. said structure including side and end walls and a supporting frame;

4. a thin covering of thermal conductive, substantially nonporous andabrasion resistant glass-ceramic material mounted on the interior ofsaid frame;

5. said glass-ceramic material having resistance to thermal shock of atleast about l,000 to 32 F. and a low coefficient of thermal expansion;

6. burner means cooperating with said structure and adapted to supplysufficient heat to the material to be burnt to cause it to ignite;

7. a blower system for supplying air to the region about the material tobe burnt, said system including at least one air nozzle directed at thematerial to be burnt;

8. exhaust means for removing gaseous pollutants from the interior ofthe enclosure which result from the burning of the material therein andan air washer for treating the removed gas streams; and

9. a portion of the structure adjacent to the supporting surface spacedtherefrom whereby makeup air from the atmosphere may enter the interiorof the structure.

I]. An incinerator as defined in claim wherein the volume of gas removedfrom the enclosure by the exhaust means is greater than the volume ofgas supplied by the blower system whereby the internal pressure withinthe enclosure is less than atmospheric pressure.

12. An incinerator as defined in claim 10 wherein the structure ismounted on wheels permitting said structure to be moved relative to thesupporting surface.

13. An incinerator as defined in claim 12 wherein the wheels aresupported on rails adjacent to the supporting surface and said wheelsand rails cooperate to define a pathway for the structure relative tothe supporting surface.

14. An incinerator as defined in claim 10 and further comprising meansfor mounting the covering on the interior off the supporting frame, saidmeans including heat resistant members extending through the coveringand connected to the frame.

15. An incinerator as defined in claim 14 wherein the heat resistantmembers include metallic plates positioned on the interior side of thecovering and fasteners extending through the covering and connected tothe frame and a ceramic material resistant to heats of at least l,000 F.coated on the portions of the plates exposed to the interior of theclosure.

16. A method of incinerating combustible material comprismg:

l. placing the material in an enclosure including a material supportingsurface and thin enclosing walls of thermal conductive, substantiallynonporous and abrasion-resistant glass-ceramic material;

2. exposing the material to a source of heat sufficient to cause saidmaterial to ignite;

3. supplying air to the ignited material in quantities sufficient tosupport continuous combustion;

4. removing a portion of the heat generated by the combustion throughthe glass-ceramic material;

5. recycling part of the generated heat and gases together with makeupair to constitute the principal air suppy; 6. removing from theenclosure part of the generate gases and associated pollutants by gasexhaust means;

7. maintaining the interior of said enclosure at a pressure less thanthe surrounding atmospheric pressure.

17. A method of incinerating combustible material as defined in claim16, and further including furnishing part of the air supply to theenclosure by means of the pressure differential between the interior ofthe enclosure and the surrounding atmosphere.

18. In a combustion chamber for burning material, a thin lining for saidcombustion chamber, said thin lining being thermal conductive,substantially nonporous and abrasion resistant glass-ceramic material,said glass-ceramic material having resistance to thermal shock of l,000F. to 32 F.

1. An incinerator for burning material comprising:
 1. a supportingsurface for material to be burnt and
 2. a structure adjacent to saidsurface anD combining therewith to form an enclosure for the material tobe burnt;
 3. said structure including a thin covering of thermalconductive and substantially nonporous glass-ceramic material;
 4. saidglass-ceramic material having a resistance to thermal shock of at leastabout 1,000* F. to 32* F.; whereby said covering may be exposed to theheat generated by the burning material
 2. a structure adjacent to saidsurface anD combining therewith to form an enclosure for the material tobe burnt;
 2. exposing the material to a source of heat sufficient tocause said material to ignite;
 2. An incinerator for burning material asdefined in claim 1, and further including a burner for use in supplyingsufficient heat to the material to be burnt to cause it to ignite.
 2. astructure adjacent to and overlying said surface and combining therewithto form an enclosure for the material to be burnt;
 3. said structureincluding side and end walls and a supporting frame;
 3. An incineratoras defined in claim 2 and further including a blower system forsupplying air to the region about the material to be burnt.
 3. supplyingair to the ignited material in quantities sufficient to supportcontinuous combustion;
 3. said structure including a thin covering ofthermal conductive and substantially nonporous glass-ceramic material;4. said glass-ceramic material having a resistance to thermal shock ofat least about 1,000* F. to 32* F.; whereby said covering may be exposedto the heat generated by the burning material
 4. removing a portion ofthe heat generated by the combustion through the glass-ceramic material;4. An incinerator as defined in claim 3, and further including exhaustmeans for removing gaseous pollutants generated by the burning ofmaterial within the enclosure.
 4. a thin covering of thermal conductive,substantially nonporous and abrasion resistant glass-ceramic materialmounted on the interior of said frame;
 5. said glass-ceramic materialhaving resistance to thermal shock of at least about 1,000* to 32* F.and a low coefficient of thermal expansion;
 5. An incinerator as definedin claim 4 wherein the structure has an upwardly tapered cross section.5. recycling part of the generated heat and gases together with makeupair to constitute the principal air supply;
 6. removing from theenclosure part of the generated gases and associated pollutants by gasexhaust means;
 6. An incinerator as defined in claim 4 wherein thestructure has side and end walls and at least one end wall has acloseable opening therein to permit material to be burnt to be placedwithin the structure.
 6. burner means cooperating with said structureand adapted to supply sufficient heat to the material to be burnt tocause it to ignite;
 7. a blower system for supplying air to the regionabout the material to be burnt, said system including at least one airnozzle directed at the material to be burnt;
 7. An incinerator asdefined in claim 4 wherein at least a portion of the structure adjacentto the supporting surface is spaced therefrom whereby makeup air maythereby enter the interior of the structure.
 7. maintaining the interiorof said enclosure at a pressure less than the surrounding atmosphericpressure.
 8. An incinerator as defined in claim 4 wherein the exhaustmeans for removing gaseous pollutants includes an air cleaner. 8.exhaust means for removing gaseous pollutants from the interior of theenclosure which result from the burning of the material therein and anair washer for treating the removed gas streams; and
 9. a portion of thestructure adjacent to the supporting surface spaced therefrom wherebymakeup air from the atmosphere may enter the interior of the structure.9. An incinerator as defined in claim 4 wherein the blower system forsupplying air to the region about the material to be burnt includes atleast one air nozzle movably mounted whereby the direction of the airfrom the nozzle may be controlled.
 10. An incinerator for burningmaterial comprising:
 11. An incinerator as defined in claim 10 whereinthe volume of gas removed from the enclosure by the exhaust means isgreater than the volume of gas supplied by the blower system whereby theinternal pressure within the enclosure is less than atmosphericpressure.
 12. An incinerator as defined in claim 10 wherein thestructure is mounted on wheels permitting said structure to be movedrelative to the supporting surface.
 13. An incinerator as defined inclaim 12 wherein the wheels are supported on rails adjacent to thesupporting surface and said wheels and rails cooperate to define apathway for the structure relative to the supporting surface.
 14. Anincinerator as defined in claim 10 and further comprising means formounting the covering on the interior off the supporting frame, saidmeans including hEat resistant members extending through the coveringand connected to the frame.
 15. An incinerator as defined in claim 14wherein the heat resistant members include metallic plates positioned onthe interior side of the covering and fasteners extending through thecovering and connected to the frame and a ceramic material resistant toheats of at least 1,000* F. coated on the portions of the plates exposedto the interior of the closure.
 16. A method of incinerating combustiblematerial comprising:
 17. A method of incinerating combustible materialas defined in claim 16, and further including furnishing part of the airsupply to the enclosure by means of the pressure differential betweenthe interior of the enclosure and the surrounding atmosphere.
 18. In acombustion chamber for burning material, a thin lining for saidcombustion chamber, said thin lining being thermal conductive,substantially nonporous and abrasion resistant glass-ceramic material,said glass-ceramic material having resistance to thermal shock of 1,000*F. to 32* F.